Base for a fine material container

Abstract

A base for a container for fine material adapted to be discharged pneumatically from the container. The container base has a generally central material outlet in communication with a number of pneumatic feed channels extending radially inwardly from the periphery, the channels dividing the container base into sector-like sections. Each such section has two upwardly converging, oblique surfaces which meet along a ridge-like edge extending towards the container center and at least one of such surfaces is aeratable from below. Overlying each feed channel is an aeratable, downwardly inclined cover having one or more openings at the periphery of the base through which material may pass into the channel.

We claim: 
     
       1. A circular base member for a fine material container having a floor provided with a generally centrally located outlet through which such material may be discharged, said base member comprising a bottom having a plurality of circumferentially spaced feed channels therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery of said base member and inclined downwardly toward and in communication with said outlet, the spaces between adjacent channels forming sector-like sections, and a cover interposed between each of said sections and overlying the associated channel, each of said covers being porous for the passage therethrough of aerating gas, each of said covers being inclined downwardly and radially outwardly toward the periphery of said base member, and each of said covers having therein at least one material discharge aperture adjacent the periphery of said base and in communication with the associated feed channel. 
     
     
       2. A base according to claim 1 wherein each of said sector-like sections has two upwardly converging surfaces which meet and form a ridge extending toward the centre of said base. 
     
     
       3. A base according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said surfaces is porous for the passage of aerating gas from below. 
     
     
       4. A base according to claim 2 wherein the converging surfaces of each of said sector-like sections are inclined at different angles to the horizontal. 
     
     
       5. A base according to claim 4 wherein the surface having the lesser inclination to the horizontal is porous. 
     
     
       6. A base according to claim 1 wherein each of said covers has more than one discharge aperture therein, each of which is located adjacent the periphery of said base. 
     
     
       7. A base according to claim 1 including a generally conical discharge cap overlying said material outlet and wherein each of said covers extends from the periphery of said cap toward the periphery of said base. 
     
     
       8. A base according to claim 1 wherein said central material outlet comprises at least one opening. 
     
     
       9. A base according to claim 1 wherein said central material outlet comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
       10. A base according to claim 9 wherein said openings are arranged substantially symmetrically about the centre of said base. 
     
     
       11. A base according to claim 1 wherein each of said channels has a porous bottom. 
     
     
       12. A base according to claim 1 wherein each of said channels has upwardly extending sides having upwardly and outwardly diverging upper surfaces, and wherein the cover for each of said channels is located substantially at the zone of transition between said sides and said upwardly converging surfaces.